President Anderson shared this great missionary story in his weekly letter to the missionaries. To me it shows the power of the spirit in teaching and learning as described in D&C 50 – all were edified.<\/p>\n
“A missionary departing this week shared an amazing experience of how he and his companion were able to \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153set the table\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d and become \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153instruments in the hands of God\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153As we were harvesting on Sunday evening, we had a thought to follow up on some people \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u00a6 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0No one else was home that we wanted to see except Marie, so we dropped in to see how they liked church. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0They each explained what they liked and how they are excited to come back. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Then we dropped the bomb and said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcWe are excited for your baptisms next week.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0The room got really quiet and we started feeling that awkward feeling that you get inside when people are uncomfortable. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0One by one they all said that they were unprepared and that they needed more time. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0My companion and I were a little unsure of what to do, so we testified about baptism and the blessings that they wanted\/needed in their lives. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We extended the invitation again, and we got the same response, but this time the spirit was in the room. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We quickly pointed out the good feeling in the room and everyone recognized it. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We told them it meant that God wanted them to be baptized. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0They were still skeptical. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0A scripture popped into my mind from Acts 2, where Peter testified of Christ and everyone felt the spirit and asked Peter what they should do\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u00a6 one of the kids read the verse. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0As soon as he finished, we explained the importance of repentance, and being baptized unto repentance. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We saw some mental cylinders fire as we testified of this principle. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0By the expression on their faces, we could see that their hearts were opening. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0They continued to express the same concerns about being baptized. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Then they asked, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcDo we have to be baptized to go to heaven?\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We read John 3:5 and another wave of understand went through the room. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We testified again of Jesus Christ, of repentance and of the Holy Ghost. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0All the questions and confusions left, and then they said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcWe won’t get baptized until we see a baptismal service. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We will come next week and then get baptized in two more weeks.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0My companion and I were unsure of what to do for a moment, and then the spirit whispered to us, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcThe Preach My Gospel District 2 videos have baptisms recorded in them!\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We dashed over to the computer, pulled up the electronic missionary resources on <\/em>lds.org<\/em><\/span><\/a> and turned it to District 2 Episode 3 and skipped to the part with the baptisms. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Three people got baptized in the video and as each person went down in the water, Marie and her family got more and more excited. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We could feel that they all really wanted it but would not commit until someone else in the room did. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0My companion and I saw this and we wanted them to say yes so badly! \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0As the video ended, Wisnof was in the corner of the room and he quietly said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcI’ll do it.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Instantly following his commitment, Mildred said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcMe too.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We were shocked, she had put up the biggest fight out of all of them. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Marie had the biggest grin on her face and she said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcI will be baptized.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We all looked at Jimmy and Steve next. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0The room was quiet. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0They both looked deep in thought. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Jimmy said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcYeah, I’ll do it.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 We testified of all the blessings that would come to them and of the happiness of Jesus Christ for them and they all smiled. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We turned to Steve finally and said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcYou can pray about it and keep thinking on it and we will\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u00a6\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dc \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0He stopped us mid-sentence and said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcI will do it too.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We were both astonished. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0The spirit flooded the room and everyone stood up from their chairs and shouted for joy! \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We finished our visit by giving them a Book of Mormon, <\/em>mormon.org<\/em><\/span><\/a> cards, and testifying about everything that happened. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0We all knelt down together and Wisnof offered the closing prayer. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0It was a spiritual feast. As he said amen, we all laughed together and then set up appointments to come over every day. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0It was the most spiritual experience I could ask for during these final weeks. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Christ lives! \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0He loves us and He wants us to repent! \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0If we repent we will be so much happier, so much greater and we will be truly prepared to meet Christ at the pleasing bar of God! \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0-Obedience brings power. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0This experience could not have happened if we were disobedient even in the slightest degree.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I loved how this companionship used all the tools we have been trying to teach to invite this family to Christ. Obedience, repentance, testimony, the Spirit, the scriptures, faith, prayer and even experiencing the ordinances were all used in a very short period of time to increase their interest, desires, and testimony to follow Christ and be baptized. The result of course was their desires were increased to follow Christ and to participate in this holy ordinance.”<\/span><\/p>\n